New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-07
CHARMED BY A FAIR WIDOW.
AN OLD MAN ADMITS HIS SIMPLICITY.
HE WAS pAzED, HE SAYS. BY WOMAN WHO CAME

HE WAS pAZED, HE SAYS. BY WOMAN WHO CAME
TO GET ADVICE, AND BECAME HIS WIFE.
According to the story Of Captain James II. Leeds.
who Is nearly seventy years old and has been
provision merchant for thirty years at Nos 233
and 235 FroDtst, his infatuaon with widow not half
as old has plunged him in a OF troubles. His
riago to her last January has resulted in slit for
separation on the ground OF abandonment brough' by
per- TO which he has responded by cross action for
annument OF the marriage. on motion made on her
behalf before Justice Lawrence In the Supreme Court
Chambers. yesterday, for alimony and counsel fee,
opposing adavs setting forth MS side OF the
presented
Captain Leeds deposes that for thrtysx years he has
lived at No 80 Orangest Brooklyn and that for half
century he has been member OF the Protestant Eps
copa Church In good staining He has been married
three times His first wife died In 1856 and his second
wife IN the spring OF 1886 Her death great blow
to him and he very lonely and detected. While he
was In this condition December Is. 1886, coupe
drove up to his business place and the woman who after
ward became his third wife alighted and entered his
office. She then Mrs. Laura V. Paul. as she
Informed him. She told him that she had previously
been introduced TO him by his friend MIRA Babcock, but
he did not remember have either Eer Mrs.
Bsbcock before. sho told him she looking for EN-
ployment for a relative. that her late husband was
lawyer in Colorado that she owned and houses in
Colorado. and that a railroad company there was about
to purchase building from her for Sl7 900. She called
second time, and In the Of conversation said:
want sound sensible ike you to advise me about
the management OF my property" She Invited hun to
call upon her in Twenty where she living
He called She asked him to pass judgment upon the
value Of her property lie passed. She expressed great
confidence In his Judgment and attered him that be
was completely overcome.
ACKNOWLEDGING HIS FASCINATION
81 know now" he says in his affidavit, that was
completely fascinated by her and was completely
under her influence as mere child. She seemed to he
witch me-" She told him that she hal received Offer
OF marriage from wealthy man. but hal refused him
because did not love him She added that there
Only one man In the world that she did love and tn,
the aant and that her love for him was pure and
umselnsh she declared that she hal been orsanst In
church In Colorado, that she Of the highest re-
speciality, Christian and yirtuous woman That
settled it,
81 was dazed." he says and overcome. and cannot
describe the fascination that she welded over
She seemed to mind in any way she wanted to
seemed To be propelled onward by power could not
resist
The result speedy marriage. ON the day Of the
marriage the woman became grossly intoxicated Five
SIX days after she asked him to pay note for ~ 900
which she had given 10 Evan T. George, LAWYER for
professional services He paid IT, few days later sho
which -le had pledged with Simpson. the pAwnbrokcr
Twice he gave her money asked for on TINS plea sue
Induced hiIn 10 give her deed Of some property ia
hsr fror 81 obtaiuei 40 in money from him
within months. often drank strong liquors. used
obscene language 10 the servants received visits from
tall. dark stranger" when her husband was away,
and finally August - broke mirrors anl furniture
aud left the house.
Aferwarl she telcgraphed TO him from the Coney
Island and Monmouth Beach race courses asking MIN Tor
money. In September she suel his stepson and partner
David T. Williams who 1--we. with him in Brookl II:
ri aiming damages the ground that he had alcnated
her husbands affections 10y traduclng her CHARACTER
She also began tho suit for limited divorce at Il AT
time. en- ploying Jacob Range ~ her lawyer Hhe de-
nanded the furniture Mr. Leeds house declaring thai
given To her threatening hts arrest II II was
not given up she permitted TO take the tuthlturo
MAKING CHARGES OF FRAUD.
Mr. Leeds de uands the annument OF the marriage on
the ground that 1t procured 10y fraud and msrepre
scntation aud alleges that she OF bal character
wien he met her and had been arrested by Detective
Price -s5 for robbng japanese naval ohcer named
Of his uniform ana money, after having Do
tanned his acquaintance by advertising In the PERSONA
column for Towing friend" 49,.
Ianra IIammandcr, the cook at tho house III winch
Leeds and his wife lived, corroboratrd nome o
hi statements saying that on the day OF tho marriage
yrs Leeds took ten elov6n drinks OF wh',hcy auu
mat she often drank gin aud brandy without any water
This counsel for Mrs Leeds denied these allegations,
md asked reference and speedy tra say tha
.he wa, in needy circumstances. lie stated lat sue hau
Endorsed note Captain Leeds ier SlHoo on Wnion
be- had aimed the money. and that she was TIE WIDOW
on AN eminent lawyer lie asked FOR permission m SUP
nlt answering amdavits. which was accorded Dy me
Judge who reserved his decision meantime on tue
motion for aimony and counsel fee.